SALARY RANGE:

OPEN PERIOD:

SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

Few vacancies in the following location:Sequoia National Park, CA United StatesView Map

WHO MAY APPLY:

United States Citizens

JOB SUMMARY:

Experience your America and build a fulfilling career by joining the National Park Service.

All information provided by candidates will be verified. If a candidate asks on her/his application documents that her/his current supervisor not be contacted, they must provide alternative references.

This is a temporary position that is expected to begin in late May and continue through mid September. These dates may change or the position may not be filled due to variables such as lack of federal funds.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a US citizen

New Hires will be required to pass a background investigation.

DUTIES:

The National Park Service Sierra Nevada Network is seeking three field technicians to help with its high-elevation five-needle pine long-term monitoring project. Work will take place in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks (California) beginning in late-June and ending in late-September 2013. The incumbents will implement the networks white pine monitoring protocol by collecting field data in high-elevation forests. The majority of work will take place in the field in remote, backcountry locations with overnight camping and travel required. A minor component of the work will be in the office, periodically transferring data and updating the networks ecologist on accomplishments and impediments. These positions will be supervised by the networks ecologist, and are temporary with full-time work schedules.

Major Duties: Implement a recently developed long-term monitoring protocol for high-elevation five-needle pine forest dynamics. Establish monitoring plots throughout Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite. Provide data collection, maintenance and delivery outlined in the monitoring protocol. Adhere to all communication and backcountry travel policies outlined in the SIEN Safety Plan. The emphasis of these positions is on field work in both team and individual settings. Primary duties include backpacking to high-elevation forest sites in park Wilderness, collecting forest community, structure, and health data, and documenting site characteristics through photographs and field data forms. Additional duties may include entering field data into software programs and working in databases. Topographic maps and global positioning systems will be used to aid in navigation and document sample site locations; a compass may also be used as a navigational tool. Hiking and sampling work may sometimes occur in inclement weather.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

GS-5: Applicant must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level, OR a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level. Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience such as, knowledge of common sampling techniques to assess forest demographics, including measuring growth and abundance of trees and seedlings and identifying them by species, determining causes of death, particularly related to bark beetle attack, dwarf mistletoe, white pine blister rust infection, and their associated symptoms, and other similar biological resource management and assessment activities relating to forest health and population dynamics using established protocols and standard scientific equipment.OR

EDUCATION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position to be filled. The successful completion of a full course of study of at least 12 months in a school for clinical laboratory technicians may be substituted for the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level for positions involving microbiology and biochemistry technician work.

OR

COMBINING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. If education is used to meet the specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Courses may have included biology, chemistry, statistics, plant ecology, botany, plant taxonomy, & vegetation sciences.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.) Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html .All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.Special Instructions For Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements. You must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Combining Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. If education is used to meet the specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. Courses may have included biology, chemistry, statistics, plant ecology, botany, plant taxonomy, & vegetation sciences.

The work involves large amounts of time outside under a variety of conditions, including high elevations (over 10,000 feet) and extreme heat and cold. Temperatures in the foothills may reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit for periods of days. High elevations may receive snow storms in the middle of summer. Much of the field season will be spent camping in remote locations in Wilderness. Field work will involve hiking long distances carrying backpacks, and possibly tools and other equipment. Office work may involve hours of computer use.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants who meet the qualification requirements specified above for this position will be evaluated and a score assigned, based upon the responses provided on the job-specific questionnaire that is required as part of the application process for this position.

To determine if you are qualified for this job, a review of your resume, supporting documentation, and responses to the assessment questionnaire will be conducted. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your competencies. Do not overstate or understate your level of experience and capability. Deliberate attempts to falsify information may be grounds for not hiring you.

Basis for Rating: Category rating procedures will be used to rate and rank candidates. Candidates will be ranked into 3 categories:

Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position.

Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job.

Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.

Individuals who have special priority selection rights under the CTAP or ICTAP programs must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. WELL QUALIFIED is defined as an eligible CTAP/ICTAP applicant who meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all quality ranking factors.'

Individuals claiming CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(a) and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP. This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of your most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location. Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP or ICTAP eligible.

Ratings will be based on responses to the occupational questions in this document. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your score. To receive credit, information submitted in your Occupational Questionnaire MUST relate to a specific work/experience block in your resume. Your answers to the occupational questionnaire must be documented in your resume.

BENEFITS:

The National Park Service offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered. http://www.usajobs.gov/EI/benefits.asp#icc

OTHER INFORMATION:

1.If you are an eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicant you may apply for special selection over other candidates for this position. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated at "well qualified" or above on the rating criteria for this position. ICTAP eligibles must submit one of the following as proof of eligibility for the special selection priority: a separation notice; a "Notice of Personnel Action" (SF-50) documenting separation; an agency certification that you cannot be placed after injury compensation has been terminated; an OPM notification that your disability annuity has been terminated; OR a Military Department or National Guard Bureau notification that you are retired under 5 U.S.C. 8337(h) or 8456.

2.If you are a current career or career-conditional Federal employee or former Federal employee who has reinstatement eligibility, you must submit a copy of your latest SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" and/or a copy of the SF-50 that reflects career or career-conditional tenure, or you will not be considered under the merit promotion process. Also, you should submit your most recent performance appraisal.3. You can apply for a non-competitive appointment if you meet the basic eligibility requirements and you are eligible for special appointment such as those authorized for the severely disabled; certain Vietnam era and disabled veterans; returned volunteers from the Peace Corps or Vista, etc. Please indicate the type of special appointment you are seeking, if any, on your application and follow all other instructions for applying shown in this announcement.

4.All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review in our office, in other Federal agency personnel offices, and on OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications .

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

You may be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties. Prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year thereafter (or more frequently if management determines such need exists), you will be required to sign an affidavit certifying to your possession of a valid State issued drivers license that is current and has not been revoked, suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified in any way to prohibit your operation of a motor vehicle. You will also submit a photocopy of your valid State issued drivers license prior to your first official motor vehicle operation, and again every year, or more frequently if management determines such need exists. Lastly, you may be required to submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that discloses all valid drivers licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.

Please indicate in your application whether you possess a valid State driver's license.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or firing you after you begin work. Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001).

Have you been employed by the Department of Interior as a temporary employee within the last two years? If yes, please provide the following information for each temporary position you may have held: Start Date, Ending Date, and Employing Agency Name, address, phone number and position title.

A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks at times have poor air quality and the presence of smoke during fires. The Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California may pose human health problems due to air pollution.Overtime may be required.Position is subject to shift rotation, night, early morning, holiday and/or weekend work.Work is performed outdoors, often under adverse weather conditions.Work requires frequent bending, stooping, walking over rough and uneven terrain, standing, working in cramped positions and climbing. Work requires lifting and moving heavy items.Employment may be extended or terminated at any time due to fluctuations in funding levels, project needs, employee performance, or other considerations. This position provides for rehire eligibility on the conditions that the selectee(s) serve at least 31 consecutive calendar days and receive a fully successful (or better) final performance evaluation. Rehire eligibility is limited to the same position or another position appropriate for temporary appointment in this park with the same duties and grade. Rehire eligibility is neither a right nor guarantee of a job offer. Consideration of rehire eligible candidates is one of several options available to selecting officials when filling temporary positions. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks present a uniquely challenging work environment. These parks represent an extraordinary continuum of ecosystems (93% designated wilderness) arrayed along the greatest vertical relief (1,370 to 14,495 feet elevation) of any protected area in the lower 48 states. They are the highest, most rugged portion of the High Sierra Mountains. As such, this position requires experience utilizing wilderness travel skills. Selectee(s) must be able to hike by foot in the backcountry at high altitude for extended periods of time while carrying backpacks, tools and supplies of at least 50 lbs, and be able to camp for several days at a time.Work requires hiking in a mountainous area (elevations above 12,000 feet) over a rough and uneven terrain with backpack/tools up to several miles in a day. Position is subject to frequent extended travel and camping in remote areas.Area Information:

Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are jointly administered by one Superintendent and administrative staff with headquarters located at Ash Mountain, Sequoia National Park. Within the administrative jurisdiction of these Parks lie the heart of the rugged Sierra Nevada encompassing over 1,400 square miles of spectacular granite mountains, deep canyons and magnificent forests.

The position is located in Ash Mountain, the park headquarters, and is approximately 6 miles from the community of Three Rivers. The elevation is 1,700 feet. Snow is seldom encountered at this elevation as the spring, fall, and winter seasons are generally mild. Summers are hot and occasionally humid.

Three Rivers has restaurants, groceries, and a variety of services and includes a school from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The nearest full service town is Visalia, 35 miles to the west. Government housing is not available. Cost of living index in Three Rivers: 101.8 (near average, U.S. average is 100).

Please note: The Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains of California may pose human health problems due to air pollution. If you need detailed information on air pollution in this area, please contact the Parks' Air Resources Specialist at (559) 565-3777.

Your Application Package status must be Complete by Tuesday, February 05, 2013. This is Midnight Eastern time (9 pm Pacific time).

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button at the bottom of this screen to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the occupational questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

To fax supporting documents you are unable to upload, complete this cover page http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf using the following Vacancy ID 827165. Fax your documents to 1-478-757-3144.

Note: To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select My Applications, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.

If you fail to submit all of the required materials, we will not be able to fully process your application, and you may lose consideration for this position. No additional information will be solicited or accepted after the closing date.

Submitting Documents

If you upload your documents using Application Manager, DO NOT FAX the same documents. To verify uploaded documents have been processed, please wait one hour to ensure they have cleared the virus scan. You can verify that your uploaded documents are attached to your application by checking the Details tab of your Application Manager account https://applicationmanager.gov for this vacancy announcement. Your documents will display under the Details tab in the Document area.

Faxed documents will take 2-3 business days to process. To fax documents, you MUST use the special cover page. Print the pre-populated cover page on the upload documents screen of Application Manager. Or, you may click this link http://staffing.opm.gov/pdf/usascover.pdf to print a copy of the cover page. When faxing documents, follow the procedures outlined below.

Include the 8-character Vacancy Identification Number 827165

Provide your Social Security Number and full name in the spaces provided or we will not be able to associate your document(s) with the rest of your application.

You may submit multiple documents for the same vacancy announcement using one cover page.

Fax your cover page and documents to 1-478-757-3144.

Faxed documents submitted with missing information will not be processed. The following will prevent your documents from being processed:

Not using the special cover page mentioned above.

Missing, incomplete, or invalid Vacancy Identification Number

Missing or incomplete Social Security Number or name

Note: If you have documents in your Application Manager account from a previous vacancy announcement they can be opened, copied and saved then reused as an upload file for this vacancy. Uploading your documents will speed the processing of your application for this announcement.

RESUME: In your resume, be sure you provide all of the information requested below:

1. Vacancy Announcement Number 827165, title and grade(s) for which you are applying.2. Your full name, mailing address (with zip code) and day/evening telephone numbers (with area code); Social Security Number; Country of Citizenship. If ever employed by the Federal Government, please show the highest Federal civilian grade held, job series, and dates of employment in grade.3. Education - High school name, city, state and zip code, date of diploma or GED. For any Colleges and/or Universities attended, include city, state and zip code; major field(s) of study; type and year of degree(s) received. If no degree received, show total credit hours received in semester or quarter hours.4. Work Experience - List each paid or non-paid position held related to the job for which you are applying (do not provide copies of job descriptions). Include job title; duties and accomplishments; number of hours per week; employer's name and address; supervisor's name and phone number; starting and ending dates of employment (month and year); salary. Indicate if your current supervisor may be contacted.5. Other Qualifications - Job-related training course (title and year); job-related skills (e.g., other languages, computer software/hardware, tools, machinery, typing speed, etc.); job-related certificates and licenses; job-related honors, awards, and special accomplishments (e.g., publications, memberships in professional or honor societies, leadership activities, public speaking, performance awards, etc.). Do not send copies of documents unless specifically requested.

Please use the following step-by-step instructions as a guide to filling out the required questionnaire. You will need to print the vacancy announcement and refer to it as you answer the questions. You may omit any optional information; however, you must provide responses to all required questions. Be sure to double check your application before submission.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. After a review of your complete application is made you will be notified of your rating and or referral to the hiring official. If further evaluation or interviews are required you will be contacted.